Survey: 98% of Moroccans support Palestinian cause, oppose normalization with Israel 

98% of Moroccans support the Palestinian cause and their resistance against Israel, according to a recent poll titled “Moroccan Public Opinion Trends Towards the Palestinian Cause.”

The survey, conducted amidst a protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has claimed countless lives, found that a significant portion of Moroccans view the October 2023 ” al-Aqsa Storm” operation launched by Palestinian armed factions as a legitimate act of resistance. 

A similar percentage views the subsequent Israeli retaliation as a genocide and expressed their opposition to Morocco’s normalization of ties with Israel.

Hassan Hmoro, the pollster, cited statements by Rachid Elfellouli, coordinator of the Moroccan Initiative for Support and Solidarity, who revealed that since the start of the conflict, Morocco has witnessed over 5,000 pro-Palestine demonstrations. 

The Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Opposing Normalization has also reported organizing over 817 solidarity events.

The poll was conducted among 13,857 Moroccans aged between 20 and 70. Of the participants, 53.1% held a university degree, 26.7% had a higher education level, and 20.2% had a secondary education level or less.

The survey found that 98.5% of respondents consider the Palestinian cause to be a matter for all Muslims, 97.8% stated that it is their own personal cause, 1.8% deemed it a non-priority, and 0.4% indicated no interest in the matter.

Regarding the October 2023 events, 97.1% of respondents classified them as resistance against the Israeli occupation.

98.3% expressed support for the Palestinian resistance, while 96.9% condemned the subsequent Israeli operations as a genocide.

Despite this overwhelming support, the poll also revealed that 50.6% of respondents believe that the official Moroccan position is not sufficiently supportive of the Palestinian cause. 

Hmoro attributed this discrepancy to several factors, including a perceived lack of robust coverage of the Gaza conflict by state-owned media, as well as articles published in certain media outlets that are seen as sympathetic to Israel and critical of Palestinian resistance.

Despite these challenges, the poll revealed that 95% of Moroccans oppose normalization with Israel, while 85.5% believe that popular solidarity with Palestine in Morocco is insufficient and called for more actions.

The poll highlights the deep-seated support for the Palestinian cause among Moroccan citizens and underscores the complex dynamics of the country’s relationship with Israel, balancing official ties with popular sentiment.